Cigarette case



March 11, 1941. w. H. MEKNCKE CIGARETTE CASE Filed Dec. 21, 1938 M41. 44/ 7 A. ME/A/O/f.

. INVE m E N R O T A WITNESS.

Patented Mar. 11, 1941 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in cigarette cases and particularly it pertains to a novel construction whereby the cigarettes will be readily accessible when the case is in its open position.

A feature of the invention resides in a novel construction whereby, instead of carrying the cigarettes in the covers of the case as is the common practice, the cigarettes will be projected to an extended position between the covers when they are opened and will therefore, be readily accessible.

A further feature of the invention resides in a novel construction of the afore-mentioned type which may be embodied in a cigarette case without rendering the same unduly bulky and awkward to handle or carry upon the person.

Still a further feature of the invention resides in a novel construction and type of cigarette package whereby an entire package of cigarettes may be placed in a carrier at a single operation, thereby eliminating the requirement of a plurality of operations to fill the cigarette case, an annoying feature of cigarette cases as generally constructed.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the nature thereof is better understood and reference will, therefore be had to the following specification and claims and the accompanying drawing, wherein,

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the cigarette case in open position,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale,

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on a still further enlarged scale, and;

Figure 4 is a view in end elevation on a still further enlarged scale.

In the drawing I have illustrated a form of the invention in which the cigarette carrier is projected to its extended position by movement of the covers from their closed position to their open position.

The covers are designated 50 and 5| and are hingedly connected together as at 52 to provide swinging movement in order that they may move to both open and closed position.

Arranged interiorly of the covers and pivotally mounted upon the hinge 52 there are two arms 53, there being one at each end of the case. These two arms being of identical construction, a description of one will suffice. Each of the arms 53 is provided with two slots 54 and 55. A carrier is designated 56 and is mounted between the two arms 53. The carrier 55 has two pins 51 and 58 upon each end thereof, the pins 51 sliding in their respective slots 55 while the pins 58 slide in their respective slots 55 of the arms 53.

Pivotally mounted upon each of the pins 58 and extending in opposite directions therefrom, there are two levers 59 and 65 and the outer ends of these levers are pivotally connected as at 5| to their respective cover members.

By this construction, it will be apparent that as the covers 50 and 5| move to an open position from a closed position, the levers 59 and 60 swing about their respective pivotal points 58 and 6| and will effect a projecting of the carrier 56 to an extended position between the covers in spaced relation therewith, one of which positions is illustrated in Figures 1 and 4. During this operation, the pins 51 and 58 have sliding movement longitudinally of their respective slots 55.

With the parts in the position illustrated in Figures 1 and 4, pressure upon the covers 50 and 5| to move them to closed position will effect retraction of the carrier 56 to a position where it, and the cigarettes carried thereby, will be positioned entirely within the covers as they reach the closed position, this being accomplished by the action of the levers 59 and 60 upon the pins 58. In its movement to and from projected or extended position, the carrier is moved by reason of the connection of the levers 59 and 60 with the pins 58 which are rigidly mounted on the carrier 56, the pins 51, and the slots 55 in which they operate forming means for guiding the carrier in such movement.

From the foregoing, it will be obvious that the invention provides a device in which the several recited objects are accomplished and while the invention has been herein illustrated in its preferred forms, it is to be understood that it is not to be limited to those forms in which it is illustrated and that it may be accomplished in such other forms as rightfully fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

, 1. A cigarette case comprising a pair of covers, a hinge for hingedly connecting together said covers whereby they may close to form a receptacle, an arm extending from each end of the hinge of the covers, each of said arms having two elongated slots, a second receptacle slidably mounted between said arms, pins carried by the ends of said second receptacle for sliding movement in the slots of said arms, and means connected to one of the pins at each end of said second receptacle and to each of the covers to effect a sliding movement of the second receptacle between said arms as the covers are moved to their open or closed position.

2. A cigarette case comprising a pair of covers, a hinge for hingedly connecting together said covers whereby they may close to form a receptacle, an arm extending from each end of the hinge of the covers, each of said arms having two elongated slots, a second receptacle slidably mounted between said arms, pins carried by the ends of said second receptacle for sliding engagement in the slots of the arms, and a pair of levers pivotally mounted upon one of the pins at each end of the second receptacle, the levers in each pair extending in opposite directions from their pivotal point towards the covers, and means for pivotally connecting each of the levers to its respective cover whereby sliding movement of the second receptacle between the arms is effected upon movement of the covers about 10 their connecting hinge.

WILLIAM H. MEINCKE. 

